Automated warehouse system and retreat mechanism

Abstract

An automated warehouse system with a simple configuration allowing for deployment of a shield wall is provided. The automated warehouse system includes a rack including a plurality of floors each including a plurality of floor panels. The floors permit travel of the transportation robot along surfaces of the floors. The plurality of floors are divided into a first section and a second section spaced with a gap in between. A retreat mechanism establishes a first configuration to be located in the gap to permit the transportation robot to travel between the first section and the second section and a second configuration to retreat from the gap to unclose the gap. When the retreat mechanism establishes the second configuration, a shield wall becomes receivable into the gap, the shield wall shielding the first section and the second section from each other.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated warehouse system comprising:
 a rack including a plurality of floors each including a plurality of floor panels adjacent to each other, the floors permitting a transportation robot to travel along surfaces of the floors, the plurality of floors being divided into a first section and a second section spaced from each other with a gap in between; and   a retreat mechanism including a first member located adjacent to the floors in the first section and swingable around a first axis parallel with the surfaces of the floors and a second member located adjacent to the floors in the second section and swingable around a second axis parallel with the surfaces of the floors, the retreat mechanism establishing a first configuration to be located in the gap to permit the transportation robot to travel between the first section and the second section and a second configuration to retreat from the gap to unclose the gap, wherein   when the retreat mechanism establishes the first configuration, the second member supports the first member on an upper surface of the second member, wherein   when the retreat mechanism establishes the second configuration, a shield wall becomes receivable into the gap, the shield wall shielding the first section and the second section from each other.   
     
     
         2 . The automated warehouse system according to  claim 1 , wherein the retreat mechanism further includes a lock mechanism displacing the second member between a lock position and an unlock position, the second member at the lock position supporting the first member on the upper surface of the second member to establish the first configuration, the second member at the unlock position swinging around the second axis to retreat from the gap to establish the second configuration, wherein
 when the unlock position is established, the first member becomes unsupported by the second member and swings around the first axis to retreat from the gap.   
     
     
         3 . The automated warehouse system according to  claim 2 , wherein the lock mechanism displaces the second member to the unlock position on a basis of a contact with the shield wall. 
     
     
         4 . The automated warehouse system according to  claim 3 , wherein a plurality of retreat mechanisms including the retreat mechanism synchronously transition from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The automated warehouse system according to  claim 2 , wherein warning of occurrence of a disaster triggers the second member to be displaced from the lock position to the unlock position. 
     
     
         6 . The automated warehouse system according to  claim 2 , wherein the second member is displaced from the lock position to the unlock position after the transportation robot retreats from a surface of the retreat mechanism onto the floors. 
     
     
         7 . The automated warehouse system according to  claim 1 , wherein the retreat mechanism is located between an adjacent pair of the floor panels opposed to each other with the gap in between. 
     
     
         8 . The automated warehouse system according to  claim 1 , wherein a length from an inner edge to an outer edge of the first member is smaller than a dimension of the gap. 
     
     
         9 . The automated warehouse system according to  claim 1 , wherein a length from an inner edge to an outer edge of the second member is smaller than a dimension of the gap. 
     
     
         10 . The automated warehouse system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a closure member located in the gap defined on a first level of the rack. 
     
     
         11 . The automated warehouse system according to  claim 1 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of support columns supporting the floors, the retreat mechanism is located between a pair of the support columns respectively in the first section and second section. 
     
     
         12 . A retreat mechanism incorporated into an automated warehouse system including a rack having a plurality of floors each including a plurality of floor panels adjacent to each other, the plurality of floors being divided into a first section and a second section spaced from each other with a gap in between,
 the retreat mechanism comprising:   a first member located adjacent to the floors in the first section and swingable around a first axis parallel with surfaces of the floors; and   a second member located adjacent to the floors in the second section and swingable around a second axis parallel with the surfaces of the floors;   the retreat mechanism being configurable in a first configuration to be located in the gap to permit a transportation robot to travel between the first section and the second section; and   the retreat mechanism being configurable in a second configuration to retreat from the gap to unclose the gap, wherein   when the retreat mechanism establishes the first configuration, the second member supports the first member on an upper surface of the second member,   when the retreat mechanism establishes the second configuration, a shield wall becomes receivable into the gap, the shield wall shielding the first section and the second section from each other.   
     
     
         13 . The retreat mechanism according to  claim 12 , further including a lock mechanism displacing the second member between a lock position and an unlock position, the second member at the lock position supporting the first member on the upper surface of the second member to establish the first configuration, the second member at the unlock position swinging around the second axis to retreat from the gap to establish the second configuration, wherein
 when the unlock position is established, the first member becomes unsupported by the second member and swings around the first axis to retreat from the gap.   
     
     
         14 . The retreat mechanism according to  claim 13 , wherein the lock mechanism displaces the second member to the unlock position on a basis of a contact with the shield wall. 
     
     
         15 . The retreat mechanism according to  claim 13 , wherein warning of occurrence of a disaster triggers the second member to be displaced from the lock position to the unlock position. 
     
     
         16 . The retreat mechanism according to  claim 13 , wherein the second member is displaced from the lock position to the unlock position after the transportation robot retreats from a surface of the retreat mechanism onto the floors. 
     
     
         17 . The retreat mechanism according to  claim 12 , wherein the retreat mechanism is located between an adjacent pair of the floor panels opposed to each other with the gap in between. 
     
     
         18 . The retreat mechanism according to  claim 12 , wherein a length from an inner edge to an outer edge of the first member is smaller than a dimension of the gap. 
     
     
         19 . The retreat mechanism according to  claim 12 , wherein a length from an inner edge to an outer edge of the second member is smaller than a dimension of the gap. 
     
     
         20 . The retreat mechanism according to  claim 12 , wherein the rack includes a plurality of support columns supporting the floors, the retreat mechanism is located between the pair of the support columns respectively in the first section and second section.